Gov. Rick Scott announced a drop in Florida's statewide unemployment rate for August from Brevard County, where he's touting the creation of 1,000 new jobs in Melbourne.
Northrup Grumman dedicated its new design center, which is expected to bring those jobs.
Half of those positions will be transferring from the company's New York facility - One community's loss is another's gain.
Northrop Grumman, a Virginia-based defense contractor, said it is consolidating its services and moving its operations in New York to Central Florida.
"In this country, we're facing a lot of defense cutbacks due to sequestration," said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast. "Pullbacks, contracts aren't being let, yet here's a community that, in the face of these cutbacks, are able to add jobs."
Brevard County will soon be reaping the benefits of an infusion of people and hundreds of jobs now available in an area still reeling from the shuttle program shutdown.
"Well, when they told us our jobs were moving. That was the first thing," said Northrup Grumman employee Rich Kurjanski when asked about when he decided to move.
For Kurjanski, the relocation is like a homecoming, in a way.
He worked as an engineer for Northrup Grumman in Melbourne 20 years ago.
Now that some 500 positions are being moved from the company's Bethpage, New York facility, he too is moving back.
"Everyone likes job security and being back in Florida is a plus," he said.
Northrup Grumman already employs 1,200 people at its Melbourne location. The extra 1,000 are expected over the next four years at their new 200,000-square-foot Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence.
Inside, design work and aircraft engineering will take place.
The building is one of the company's five centers of excellence. A second Florida location is in St Augustine.
With jobs averaging $70,000 per year, it's a huge infusion to the local economy.
"That's 500, 600, maybe 1,000 homes being bought, cars being bought, furniture. Getting their kids in school, becoming part of the community," said Lynda Weatherman, with the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.
For Ellen Morehead, moving to this community was a no brainer.
Her expenses were too high and she says her money will go farther here than in New York.
"I couldn't afford my job there, if I had to get another job making what I'm making here," Morehead said.
Morehead said she would go house hunting this weekend.
She's getting advice from her colleague Rick, since he's lived in the area before.
The new facility is set to open mid-2014.
There are still hundreds of jobs up for grabs for people here, like former shuttle workers.
Filling those positions will take place in the next several months.